Washington crosses the Delaware, finally

Unlike in recent years, weather cooperates for the reenactment.

For the first time in four years, Mother Nature got it right -- well, right enough -- for Gen. George Washington and his troops to cross the Delaware River and turn the tide of the Revolutionary War.

Despite a steady rain , reenactors re-created the historic Christmas Day in 1776 when Washington and his troops braved the Delaware's icy waters to surprise 1,500 Hessian troops in New Jersey, enabling to Continental Army to score critical victories at Trenton and Princeton.

"Everybody comes out for the holidays to see it and they get disappointed when it doesn't happen, and we get just as disappointed," said Denis Cooke of Warminster, dressed as common farmer who would have been a member of a local militia that joined Washington's troops in battle.

Planning for the crossing begins months in advance. A large behind-the-scenes crew monitors water and river conditions frequently.

If the weather gets too warm, it could cause snow on the ground to melt fast, raising the river's level and making rowing unsafe. If the steady rain turns to a downpour, it could limit visibility. A turn to sleet would make the weather too icy.

For many of those reasons, it hasn't worked out the past three years, and the event became a stripped-down version with speeches, marches, canons, but no rowing across the Delaware.

But on Sunday the crowds and reenactors were assured the 53rd planned crossing was a go with the temperature hovering in the 40s, and rain holding off just enough.

Washington had to endure much harsher conditions, and didn't have the luxury of emergency crews from the New Jersey State Police and three area fire departments watching in the distance in case of complications.

Seamen put the Durham boats in the water and lined up on the bank, some hoisting 15-foot oars weighing between 70 to 90 pounds at their side. Durham boats are replicas of the mid-18th century vessels designed by Robert Durham, a engineer at the Durham Iron Works in Riegelsville.

James Gibson, a maintenance manager at a Kmart distribution center in Morrisville and longtime Revolutionary War buff, played Gen. Washington for the fourth straight year. According to tradition, the actor is chosen for a two-year term or until he is rowed across the river.

Gibson marched with troops to the river, and after inspecting the army -- some of whom would have been without shoes, others without adequate clothing -- gave Washington's famous speech, beginning with Thomas Paine's famous line: "These are the times that try men's souls.

"I don't care how many rivers we need to cross or how many miles we need to walk," Gibson told the troops, "we need to make sure we strike this army when they least expect it."

Cheers rose from thousands of people, some from as far away as California, who lined both sides of the Delaware to watch the 10-minute journey.

"We do this every year," said Mike Daly of Edison, N.J. "I have been in the military most of my life, so it's in my blood."

John and Helen Conway of Solebury Township have been regulars the last few years, but this was the first time they actually saw the army cross.

"We were very much looking forward to it," John Conway said.

Syed Masood of Levittown heard about the event through one of his children's teachers as they were learning U.S. history.

"It's a history lesson for the kids," he said. "I waited for this day for the last six months."